It was her first time at the Redlands Summer Music Festival, Marsha Gebara recalled, in July of 1981, and the performance was that year’s musical: “My Fair Lady.” “My husband and I had moved to Redlands in 1980,” she said. “We had heard a lot about Redlands Bowl and were out for an evening of music. I sat there listening, in awe, to these wonderful artists in this very professional production.” After that, she said, they were regulars at the summer concerts. It didn’t matter what the program was, she said – they enjoyed it all: classical music and band programs and popular performing artists. A friend asked Gebara if she had any interest in becoming an Associate of the Redlands Bowl – a member of the group that raises money for the Redlands Summer Music Festival and other special programs. “I told her I’d be very interested,” said Gebara, now the Bowl’s program coordinator. “All these years later, I’ve worked with the Bowl in other capacities, but I’m also a member of the Associates.” Grace Stewart Mullen founded the Redlands Bowl – and the Redlands Community Music Association, which operates it – in 1923, when she was in her mid-40s. She devoted the rest of her long life to bringing music to the community, even during the lean years of the Great Depression. Raising money, recruiting artists and overseeing concert-to-concert operations of the Bowl was more than a full-time job. In 1950 – Mullen was in her 70s by then – she ran into a friend while shopping and went home with more than just groceries. She had a promise of help. As Gebara tells it: “This wonderful woman, Carolyn S. Pike, said, ‘Golly, Grace – you’re trying to do this all by yourself. I’m going to start the Associates of the Redlands Bowl.’ ” The Redlands Summer Music Festival would not be what it is without the Associates, said Gebara, who has served the group in just about all its offices, including president. “I don’t want to neglect all the other wonderful groups that help the Bowl, because it takes about a thousand volunteers to make this miracle happen, and they are all very important in the Bowl’s mission to bring music to the community at no charge for admission.” The Bowl’s red-shirt ushers take up a collection at each program, she said, and people give as they are able. The rest of the budget comes from donations and grants and fundraisers, including the Associates’ annual benefit events. The group Pike founded 62 years ago now raises about a fifth of the Bowl’s yearly $500,000 budget. Pike also instituted the Young Artist Auditions scholarships, a program that each year provides monetary prizes and an opportunity to perform at the Bowl for four to eight students. This year there are eight – three pianists, a cellist, a violist, two violinists and a singer – and they will perform on June 2. “Being able to provide scholarships for these young musicians is a wonderful feeling,” said Lisa Topoleski, current president of the Bowl Associates. “It’s one small part of Redlands Bowl, but it’s an important part.” More information about the Associates of the Redlands Bowl is available by visiting associatesoftheredlandsbowl.com.

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